Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Electricity: Storage

baroness featherstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the potential benefits of implementing a regulatory definition of electricity storage based upon the definition currently used for interconnector capacity.

lord henley: Our 2016 call for evidence on a smart, flexible energy system sought views on how to define electricity storage in legislation and other regulation. A large number of respondents agreed that the definition developed by the industry group, the Electricity Storage Network, provided the best basis for this. Very few respondents suggested basing the regulatory definition on that used for interconnection. In the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, published in July 2017, the Government committed to define electricity storage in primary legislation using the Electricity Storage Network’s definition as a basis, when Parliamentary time allows.

Electricity: Storage

baroness featherstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many gigawatts of large scale long duration electricity storage, of over four hours, was on the National Grid last year; and what assessment they have made of the total requirement for this year.

lord henley: Long duration storage, in the form of pumped hydro, accounted for just under 3GW capacity in GB last year. National Grid, as System Operator, takes a technology neutral approach to securing services that meet the needs of balancing the electricity system, and is in the process of setting out future needs through their System Needs and Product Strategy.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to extending the existing renewable energy subsidy for offshore wind beyond October.

lord henley: The Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme closed to most new projects on 31 March 2017. Floating and demonstration offshore wind projects in Scotland have a grace period until 30 September 2018 to accredit under the scheme. Developers have known about this grace period since it was announced by the Scottish Government in 2013. The expiry dates are set out in legislation and we do not intend to extend them.The RO is being replaced by the competitive 'Contracts for Difference' (CFD) support scheme. Innovative offshore wind projects are eligible to compete in the next CFD auction, planned for spring 2019. The scheme incentivises developers and the supply chain to innovate and continuously bear down on costs. This will allow the UK to produce more renewable energy at a significantly lower cost for consumers.

Manufacturing Industries

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the potential impact of Brexit on the manufacturing sector, in the light of the manufacturing examination performed by the UK Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex.

lord henley: We have noted this report and will consider its findings alongside other evidence on the potential impact of EU Exit on the UK manufacturing sector when developing manufacturing policy, and work closely with industry to deliver the best possible outcomes for British manufacturers. Although we recognise the challenges faced by EU Exit, we remain committed to making the UK the best place in Europe to own and grow a business after the UK leaves the EU. This includes supporting businesses that trade with the EU and wider international markets, as well as continuing to encourage record foreign direct investment in the support of business and communities up and down the country.

Digital Technology

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of the potential for 3D printing to boost skilled job creation in the UK.

lord henley: The Government’s Industrial Strategy has set out a long term approach to boost the UK’s productivity growth and ensure that we’re building an economy fit for the future. The White Paper has set out a range of measures aimed at increasing investment from the private and public sector, which will both be vital in meeting the objective of increasing our productivity and earning power for people across the UK. This includes a commitment to increase total R&D investment to 2.4% of GDP by 2027.We remain committed to making the UK the best place in Europe to own and grow a manufacturing business by cutting business taxes, slashing red tape and investing in new scientific infrastructure on a record scale. Through our Industrial Strategy, we will make sure that we are using all the tools we have to stimulate growth throughout the UK. That means using our record investments in infrastructure to unlock growth in every part of the country; using the major new investment in research to support innovative manufacturing businesses across the country; and encouraging inward investment into the parts of the country where we need to get growth going faster.We are working closely with UK industry to create the right conditions for competitive, world leading manufacturing businesses to flourish and grow across the UK. Government recognises the importance of 3D printing in the UK manufacturing sector when developing manufacturing policy. One example is through the independent industry-led Made Smarter Review on industrial digitalisation, which identifies additive manufacturing as one of the key technologies’. Another is by investing over £300m in the last five years in the High Value Manufacturing Catapult to support the commercialisation of the innovation and new technologies such as 3D printing.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

British Council: Finance

baroness suttie: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to make a decision on the future level of funding for the British Council in the developed world.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British Council plays an important role in projecting British values and promoting international cultural relations around the world. The British Council will continue to receive the annual funding that was agreed in 2015 as part of the Spending Review. In 2018/19 that includes £151 million Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding and £13 million non-ODA funding. Future funding for the British Council will be decided as part of the next Spending Review. Any decisions on funding which are taken outside that process will be updated to Parliament.

EU Countries: British Council

baroness suttie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to expand the British Council's operations in EU member states in the run-up to Brexit.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Council plays an important role in maintaining strong and effective partnerships in Europe. British Council operations are primarily a matter for the Council and its Board of Trustees, but we regularly discuss priorities with them and will continue to do so, both for Europe and the rest of the world.